Cataract surgery in The Black Country: NHS Wait vs Private Cost
If you need a cataract surgery in The Black Country, here's the typical NHS waiting time versus what it costs to go private — updated for 2026.
NHS Wait (The Black Country)
40 wks
Typical referral-to-treatment wait for Ophthalmology in this ICB.
Private Self-Pay
£1,000–£2,500
Typical UK self-pay range. Usually treated within 2–3 weeks.
How long is the NHS wait for a cataract surgery in The Black Country?
In The Black Country, the typical NHS waiting time for ophthalmology procedures such as cataract surgery is around 40 weeks from referral to treatment. Waits vary by hospital within the region and change month to month — and under NHS Right to Choose you can ask to be referred to a faster provider elsewhere in England at no cost.
What does a private cataract surgery cost?
Going private for a cataract surgery in the UK typically costs between £1,000 and £2,500, with an average around £1,500. Self-pay patients are usually seen within 2–3 weeks, compared with the 40-week NHS wait in The Black Country — a saving of roughly 37 weeks.
Other procedures in The Black Country
Hip replacement in The Black CountryKnee replacement in The Black CountryShoulder replacement in The Black CountryKnee arthroscopy in The Black CountryMeniscus repair in The Black CountryCarpal tunnel release in The Black Country
Source: NHS England RTT data (2026) and typical UK self-pay fees. Figures are indicative ranges for guidance only.